The concept of utilizing the wing structure as the entire aircraft isn’t new. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Stealth Bomber is perhaps one of the most recognizable example and the BAE MAGMA UAV is the latest to do so. However, one that takes has on an axial symmetrical shape that has an uncanny resemblance to the mythical UFOs? Hardly ever.

The All-DIrectional Flying Object, or ADIFO for short, is perhaps the only uniquely aerodynamically shaped aircraft we have seen to date, well, that’s unless if Pentagon begs to differ, if you know what I mean. As you can see, ADIFO disc form does really makes it looks like the UFO mankind have imagine it to be. In reality, it is a very Earthly contraption that uses both horizontal rotors like any quadcopter to operate at low speed and jet engines to achieve high speed horizontal flight.

Developed by engineer and inventor Razvan Sabie and aerodynamicist Losif Taposu, a senior scientist at Romania’s National Institute for Aerospatial Research and former Head of Theoretical Aerodynamics at the National Aviation Institute, the 1.2 meter diameter aircraft is essentially a VTOL and yes, it is fully functional as you can see in the video after the break.

Theoretically, the ADIFO would have jet engines for horizontal thrust, but in this small prototype, electric fans were used instead. The horizontal thrust engines that can be vector independently to allow for maneuverability since it obviously lacks of movable planes like ailerons, elevators or elevons. Additionally, there’s a set of lateral thrust nozzles on either sides that further aid in the aircraft in moving sideways and even rotate extremely quickly during flight.

In short, the maneuverability is unprecedented. So, yeah, it does not just look like a UFO, but it also kind of behaves like one too. I mean, it so agile that you’d be forgiven to think it is some alien technology. And oh, did we mention that it can fly upside down as well? That’s absolutely surreal. Like, it is everything we imagine a UFO to be.

Uh-oh. Why do I have a feeling that Pentagon and/or DARPA will be very intrigued by the concept. Anyways, have a look at the video below to learn more.